Women’s Health Week

This week marks the beginning of the 6th annual Women’s Health Week.

With Commonwealth investment, Jean Hailes for Women’s Health is raising awareness among Australian women about common women’s health issues, and providing practical evidence-based advice on maintaining good health now and into the future.

Women’s Health Week involves a series of local events around the country and a number of online educational and awareness initiatives. I encourage you to get involved and find a local event in your area at www.womenshealthweek.com.au/events, and promote this week on your social media channels using the hashtag #WomensHealthWeek.

The Morrison Government is committed to supporting the health of all Australian women and girls through all stages of their lives.

The Federal Government has announced a range of women’s health initiatives this year, including:

The creation of the first ever National Action Plan for Endometriosis, supported with an initial Commonwealth investment of $4.7 million for greater awareness, clinical care and research into this common menstrual health disorder;

$703.6 million to list Kisqali® on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), to provide subsidised access to treatment for breast cancer, from 1 July 2018;

$39.5 million to list Boostrix® and Adacel® on the PBS to immunise pregnant women and their unborn children against whooping cough, from 1 July 2018;

$9 million for the Butterfly Foundation to provide novel treatment and to coordinate a national system of care for people with diagnosed eating disorders, which predominantly affect women;

$18.6 million through the National Health and Medical Research Council for 29 new women’s health research projects, including for breast cancer research, sexual and reproductive health, and non-communicable disease prevention and detection;

$17.5 million through the Medical Research Future Fund for the Women’s Health Research, Maternal Health and First 2,000 Days Initiative;

The current development of an Australian Breastfeeding Strategy: 2018 and Beyond; and

The current development of a National Women’s Health Strategy: 2020 – 2030 to improve the health and wellbeing of all women in Australia over the coming decade.

There’s been a lot of good news for women’s health in recent times, and I encourage you to get involved in supporting this year’s National Women’s Health Week.